12 of the Best Luxury Hotels in Japan
09 September, 2019
- Words by
- Annabel Cucuz
Ditch your westernised definition of luxury that is reduced to
size and ornamentation; when it comes to Japanese hotel design,
luxury is embodied by elegance and sleek minimalism. Found in
Tokyo,
Kyoto,
Niseko and beyond, these are 12 of Japan’s best luxury hotels.
From high-rise hotels to quaint ryokans, these are the best
places to stay in Japan…
hotel
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan
Park Hyatt is one of Tokyo’s original luxury hotels, whose frills cascade from the grandeur of the lobby to each of the en suites’ Aesop amenities. Impeccably attentive staff and views of Mount Fuji add extra pizazz. Thought you recognised the hotel? Scarlett Johanssen and Bill Murray graced the hotel when filming Lost in Translation.
hotel
The Celestine Kyoto Gion
Kyoto, Japan
A delicate balance of time-honoured and contemporary Japanese design features occupies the interior of The Celestine Kyoto Gion. Peppered with conscientious details such as gift-wrapped cloths and yukata robes, the hotel exudes unassuming luxury. Guests are even presented with (incredibly) Handy mobile phones, so the complications of data roaming will not prevail.
Address
572 Komatsu-cho
Higashioji-nishiiru
Yasaka-dori
Higashiyama-ku
Kyoto
605-0933
hotel
Sankara Hotel & Spa Yakushima
Kagoshima, Japan
On the idyllic Unesco World Heritage Site of Yakushima island, Sankara Hotel & Spa Yakushima is perfectly placed for nature lovers. Here nature is a theme that permeates hotel, with locally grown botanicals and Thai herbal treatments being used in the spa. The hotel’s finer dining provides a French-Japanese fusion cuisine, which is prepared for guests in a sleek open kitchen.
Address
553 Haginoue
Mugio
Yakushima-cho
Kumage-gun
Kagoshima
891-4402
hotel
Amanemu
Shima, Japan
Luxury resort and spa Amanemu (one of our favourites in the hotelier’s roster) is situated three hours by train from Kyoto. Ryokan-inspired, the retreat is surrounded by Unesco-listed pilgrim trails and sacred forests, making for an ultra-Zen wellness experience. Built (and designed) around a vast hot spring, the spa takes a holistic approach, with treatments spanning hot-stone therapies to signature facials and reiki. While the outdoor swimming pool is understandably alluring, the yoga studio and a quartet of treatment suites fringed by forest will beckon any bathing beauty out of the water. Meals spotlight the region’s izakaya-style seafood offerings and, come lunchtime, bento boxes of sashimi and tempura are coveted commodities.
hotel
Palace Hotel
Tokyo, Japan
The historic Palace Hotel offers guests a lavish stay with views over the gardens and skyscrapers of Tokyo. Hotels in the Japanese capital seldom offer guests balconies, so the addition of these adds a rare luxury to the white and pale-green rooms. Forget wading through dossiers of leaflets about local activities: Palace Hotel offers its own carefully curated selection of experiences and activities, including sumo-wrestler lunches and expert-led tours of local architecture.
hotel
Zaborin
Niseko, Japan
The purpose of a visit to Zaborin is to do absolutely nothing other than relax. The resort is comprised of 15 secluded detached villas set around an onsen in a small forest. Our favourite touch is the library, stacked with best-selling books and films waiting to be taken back to your room.
hotel
Aman Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan
The preservation of Aman’s signature serenity is flawless in its first city location of Tokyo. The incredible use of space in each bedroom makes you forget that you’re in a hotel; the airy rooms designed by the Australian architect Kerry Hill are filled with natural wood, stone and paper, echoing traditional, sleek Japanese homes. Enjoy the sweeping views of Tokyo while honing your folding skills with the delightful origami paper provided in each room.
hotel
Gôra Kadan
Hakone, Japan
Gôra Kadan is one of Japan’s most elegant and chic ryokans (a traditional Japanese inn), situated in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Each room is a retreat of tranquility with minimal design and a palette of warm wood which exudes natural comfort. Private dinners are served in your room, and your dinner wardrobe is provided for you in the form of a comfortable kimono.
hotel
HOSHINOYA Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan
Cosy ryokan inn vibes meet luxury hotel at the 18-storey HOSHINOYA Tokyo, which benefits from a hot-spring onsen. The overall feel here falls somewhere between peaceful traditions and a casual modern attitude, exemplified in the cotton-jersey kimonos provided for guests.
hotel
Trunk Hotel
Tokyo, Japan
There’s an emphasis on “made in Japan” at the eco-conscious Trunk Hotel, a perfect choice for the green-minded traveller. High-ceilinged rooms (some of which sleep up to 14) foster contemporary Japanese design with minimalist clean-cut lines – we recommend booking one with a terrace or balcony. There’s a wood-and-glass chapel on the terrace if you fancy getting hitched, too.
hotel
Asaba
Izu, Japan
At Asaba you don’t need to lift a finger. Banquets and breakfasts are served in your timelessly minimal room in which futons unrolled each night by attentive staff. Soak in the onsen baths while taking in views across the Izu Peninsula.
hotel
Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel
Tokyo, Japan
With all rooms located above the 19th floor (and up to the 37th), Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel wows guests with breathtaking panoramic views across Tokyo. Opt for the Executive levels at the top of the hotel – just try not to steal all the L’Occitane amenities.